It looks like Mandurah residents could see a new bridge next to the current Mandurah Estuary Bridge no matter who is voted in.
Last week, both the Liberal and Labor party announced funding for an additional bridge to tackle congestion, with Premier Mark McGowan committing $55 million, saying the federal government was expected to match that amount and construction would begin in 2023, if Labor was elected.
The Liberal's funding commitment was still under wraps at the time but on Saturday leader Zak Kirkup announced the party would match Labor's commitment but would fund the entire project if federal government funding couldn't be secured.
Earlier:
Mr Kirkup, who has been campaigning for a new estuary bridge since 2016, said the Liberal party was committed to starting the project in the first term, if elected.
"I am guaranteeing a new Mandurah Estuary Bridge will be built," he said.
"Labor has committed to funding half the project, said construction won't start until 2023 and it will take up to two-and-a-half years to complete.
"A Liberal government will fast-track construction - I will get the ball rolling on a business case to Infrastructure Australia on day one, if elected, to seek Commonwealth funding."
"I have seen Mandurah grow and the congestion and road safety has been a big issue for far too long," Mandurah Liberal candidate Ryan Burns added.
The new bridge is estimated to cost $110 million, which includes the construction works, works to tie-in the approaches onto and off the bridge and associated road works.
At the Labor announcement on Thursday, Dawesville candidate Lisa Munday said as a paramedic she had seen how difficult it could be for cars to get out of the way of ambulances on the bridge.
"Emergency services having only three lanes makes it very difficult for people to merge left and it is one of the only two bridges to the island so it's important to make it quicker through that peak period time," she said.
"This is going to be a very important piece of infrastructure for people in all parts of Mandurah because this is a key connector across the estuary for those travelling from the south to the north," Mandurah MP David Templeman added.
"It will also mean freeing traffic up pressure points further along Old Coast Road.
"It is going to free up people's time in Dawesville and other parts of Mandurah."
